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Senate hopeful: America eroding

Jane Norton, a Grand Junction native campaigning for the U.S. Senate, said Wednesday during a stop in Grand Junction she is “running against big government.”

Norton, a Republican and former lieutenant governor, told about 45 supporters she is distressed by the federal stimulus, cap-and-trade legislation and health-care discussions undertaken by the Obama administration and Democrat-controlled Congress.

Accompanied by her mother, Elinor, Norton referred to her father, Walt “Bus” Bergman, a former Mesa College coach, and said her values were shaped by them.

Now, though, “The America my mother and dad knew is being eroded all around us,” Norton said at Gala Cafe, 2650 North Ave., Suite 106.

Instead of being a land of opportunity, the United States is being transformed into a “land of entitlement,” Norton said.

Norton is opposed by Ken Buck, the Weld County district attorney, and possibly former state Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock, who set up an exploratory committee.

Democrats also are split. Sen. Michael Bennet, the incumbent who was appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter, is facing a challenge from Andrew Romanoff, the former speaker of the Colorado House.

Norton took several shots at the Obama administration’s conduct of foreign affairs, saying the United States is treating its enemies like friends and friends like enemies.

“We need to be Americans and not apologize for it,” Norton said.

Norton later visited Delta, Montrose and Gunnison before returning to Denver.